Beyond being full of probiotics, apple cider vinegar’s many other properties are beneficial for gut health. As functional medicine practitioner Will Cole, D.C., IFMCP, explains, “apple cider vinegar has also been shown1 to have antiviral and anti-yeast and antifungal benefits, all helpful in supporting microbiome and overall immune balance.” So before digging into your starchy faves like pasta, potatoes, and pretzels, try sipping on a little apple cider vinegar. Researchers believe it works by suppressing appetite. Acetic acid has been shown to delay gastric emptying3, meaning you feel fuller for longer. This is probably why apple cider vinegar consumption has also been weakly associated with lower total energy4 consumption throughout the day. While further research is needed, you can safely include ACV as part of a nourishing weight management routine. Try adding 2 teaspoons of apple cider vinegar to 16 ounces of water and sipping this concoction throughout the day. Apple cider vinegar will even clean your toilets and leave your bathroom smelling like apples. Just pour it into the toilet and allow it to sit overnight. However, it should not be used in place of more protective against serious viruses. Try recycling an old shampoo bottle, then filling it with ½ tablespoon of apple cider vinegar and 1 cup of cold water. Pour the solution through your hair after shampooing as an ACV rinse. Or find a hair care product with apple cider vinegar. Bonus: ACV may help get rid of flaky dandruff. Due to its antifungal properties8, it can work against some of the common causes of dandruff, like a buildup of oil or a yeastlike fungus called malassezia. It is important to note that due to its acidic nature, apple cider vinegar alone may cause skin irritation. Always dilute apple cider vinegar before using topically. It’s worth noting that, due to its acidity, there is some concern that consuming ACV can contribute to tooth enamel decay9, just as soda and fruit juices do. So we advise caution with this method and don’t recommend doing it long term. Try spraying one part vinegar and one part water on your pet’s fur and rubbing it in generously. Saturate the entire coat, and continue every day for a few days to a week When apple cider vinegar is made using a slow fermentation process, there is a buildup of yeast and bacteria. This buildup, called the mother, is commonly thought to contain most of the beneficial ingredients (enzymes and proteins). The mother makes it look slightly cloudy and may even show up in strands or sediment in the finished product. When buying, you always want to purchase one with the mother still intact, as that is the part of the vinegar that retains many of the beneficial ingredients. Make sure you shake it well to disperse the mother before you use it. Still not sure about the taste? You can also get apple cider vinegar in capsule or pill form and take it that way. Warning: The capsules will still smell like apple cider vinegar. McDonough has developed & lead nutrition education programming in schools. She’s covered a wide range of topics as a health & nutrition reporter from the rise in the use of psychedelics for depression to the frustrating trend in shorter doctors’ appointments and the connection between diet and disease.
